Mexico's cruise passenger fee rises to $10 with further increases planned through 2028

Last updated Aug 14, 2026

(2:50 p.m. EDT) — Mexico's cruise passenger fee has doubled to $10, but it won't stop there.

The fee is set to increase twice more, rising to $15 on July 1, 2027, and then to $21 on August 1, 2028, according to a Mexican government decree.

Known as the Non-Resident Duty (DNR), the fee will remain at $21 through September 2030.

The fee applies to all foreign travelers arriving in Mexico aboard cruise ships and is collected through cruise lines or their appointed shipping agents.

The country's Congress first approved a proposed $42 tax on cruise passengers in December 2024. It was originally set to take effect on January 1, 2025. However, after months of negotiations, the country agreed to a lower fee that would be introduced gradually.

The new fee affects a large portion of cruisers. According to the country's Tourism Secretariat, Mexico welcomed 11.2 million cruise passengers in 2025, across 3,156 cruise ship arrivals. The number represents a 12% increase in passengers from 2024.

The busiest ports were Cozumel, which welcomed about 4.7 million guests, followed by Mahahual with 2.4 million. Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas each saw more than 1 million cruise passengers.

The fee increase has drawn reactions from members of the cruise community, who shared their thoughts on the change on Cruise Critic message boards.

The fee increase is not a surprise to some cruise travelers, who have been following the planned changes since they were announced.

"As reported, this schedule was announced in 2025 and one would hope fees have been incorporated into fares by now," wrote c-leg5.

Another member, smokeybandit, agreed: "Yes, this was known. It's going to keep going up, too."

Others took a more critical view: "Mexico has found the lost gold mine 'Fleece Tourista'. Ponce De Leon dedicated his life to find this pot of gold."